Audubon Honors Uf Scholar For Energy-conservation Law

Barney Capehart, who spearheaded a state law requiring energy-efficient appliances, has been named 1987 Conservationist of the Year by the Florida Audubon Society.

The energy-conservation law passed this spring will reduce the need for new power plants, decrease air pollution and save Florida residents an estimated $4 billion on their electric bills during the next 30 years.

Capehart, 47, is an industrial and systems engineering professor at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He had pushed for the law for five years. He was also active with other environmentalists in an unsuccessful battle to stop the Orlando Utilities Commission from building a coal-fired power plant.

California, New York and Massachusetts have similar appliance-efficiency laws. Capehart and others pushing for national appliance standards also convinced manufacturers that uniform standards were in their best interest, and Congress passed a national law this year.

''Florida and California are now the two leaders in appliance-efficiency standards,'' said Capehart. National standards will affect such appliances as refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, water heaters, furnaces and pool heaters.

Florida's law goes further. It requires low-flow shower heads, which cut water use by 40 percent, and efficient fluorescent lighting, which is expected to save state businesses $28 million a year by 1996. Florida is also the first state to adopt refrigerator and freezer standards that are more stringent than national ones.

By conserving energy, Capehart said, these standards are expected to save more than a million tons of coal a year, reducing air pollution and hazardous wastes.

The Florida Audubon Society will present Capehart with the award tonight at its annual convention at Wekiwa Springs State Park. It named a Conservationist of the Year in two categories -- private individual and public official. Insurance Commissioner Bill Gunter, considered a friend to environmentalists on the Florida Cabinet, received the public official award.